We’re looking forward to introducing you to Trisha Tamblyn. Check out our conversation below.
Trisha, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
It’s no secret to anyone in my life that I like to stay busy. Recently, though, I’ve been finding an inordinate amount of joy in slow life. Granted, my version of living slower just means taking one day off a week, but nonetheless it’s nice! I’m proud of myself for recognizing my own physical and mental limits without letting it make me feel less-than. I’m living in my human body, and this body is not indestructible. I need to take some time to care for myself in order to keep everything else going.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Trisha Tamblyn, and I think the best description of me is what people referred to me as in college: the girl with the hats. I moved states away from my family and started my life over, where nobody knew my name or anything about me. I used to wear a lot of wide-brimmed fedoras (thank you 2017 fashion), and those literal hats became metaphorical hats later in life.
I’ve never been fond of the idea that we have to choose one path. I believe that I can do anything, so I do everything!
I am a musician, first and foremost. But I am also an entrepreneur, an activist, an artist, and an educator.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
This is going to sound cliche, and maybe it is. My mom has always been my biggest cheerleader, as well as my biggest critic. I used to cry and cry whenever she would ask me to think deeper and look outside myself for the answers; when she would demand that I demand more of myself. She knew that I was capable of more than I was allowing myself to do, so she pushed me. I’m forever grateful for her seeing and fostering that drive in me.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
Admittedly, very recently! I’ve spent a lot of energy trying to hide the broken pieces of myself, and it wasn’t until I got with my current band that I found power in all of that pain. We’re a little 4-piece group called Creysi, and I’m so incredibly grateful for them. These guys have made me feel so safe and appreciated as a musician that I actually told real stories in my music. I didn’t hide the meaning behind some vague metaphor, I let it be almost obvious. I was scared at first that they wouldn’t vibe with music like mine, but it turns out that we’re all on the same wavelength! We create music and art together – it’s so much more than just a band.
Case in point: I was able to tell my story of Chiari Malformation through our song “Pleading and Bleeding” on our debut EP titled “SRJNT”. I don’t like talking about how debilitating the pain is, because it makes me feel weak. But this song is my swan song; my favorite to sing live, and I actually enjoy listening to it too.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
I grew up in Wyoming, and there’s a lot that comes with that territory. I won’t go too into detail, but it’s a basic principle in that neck of the woods that the land is to be respected and protected. I feel this is a core cultural value, and I have woven it into my daily life. I have never, and will never, throw trash on the ground. I thank a space when I leave it, and I say hello to the squirrels and birds by my door in the morning. It might seem kooky to some folks, but it’s what’s right to me.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Oh absolutely! I had a DETAILED life plan when I got to college, with different trickle-down scenarios as well. I didn’t stop at Plan A, I began adulthood with plans A-J meticulously laid out. Unsurprisingly, there were bumps in the road that I didn’t suspect. However, I ended up right where I planned, getting my dream internship with one of the biggest music companies in the world. I was so excited and proud of myself that I didn’t even stop to think about what the actual workflow would look like.
I was completely virtual, so I never actually got to meet my team in person. And it turns out – I absolutely hate working in publishing! I cannot stand managing metadata, mastering is my least favorite part of the engineering process, and I have little to no interest in copyright law. I didn’t do the best work that I could have, and I do regret that. I didn’t have the proper amount of time to devote to an internship of that caliber, and I pushed myself off the deep end into a full on mental breakdown from burnout.
I can’t even verbalize how awful it feels to finally get what you’ve been chasing, to then have it completely crumble you and destroy everything you’d built until that point. I was so lost after that semester – and it took me awhile to find my footing again.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://trishatamblyn.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/trisha.tam
- Other: https://creysiband.com
Image Credits
Alyssa Click Photography
Sarah Anne Photography
Alex Hankins Photography
McKenzie Massey
